FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kalamazoo, Mich. – On Saturday, Aug. 10, Growlers left-handed pitcher Ryan Kraft was named the Northwoods League Pitcher of the Year.
The junior from Indiana, Kraft is the second Kalamazoo Growler in franchise history to win the award, joining 2014 Notre Dame right-hander Ryan Smoyer. Behind seven quality starts in nine performances, Kraft holds a 1.44 ERA, the second lowest in the league among pitchers with 30 or more innings. Kraft has thrown a league fourth-most 56.1 innings while having walked just 10 batters all year. His 0.91 WHIP is also the second-lowest of any pitcher in the league.
Kraft will end the year as the Northwoods League leader in strikeouts after punching out a Growlers franchise single-season record 81. With six wins, Kraft ends the regular season tied for fourth in the league.
Throughout his nine appearances, Kraft struck out nine or more batters in five separate appearances, the most by a single Growler in franchise history. On June 19, Kraft struck out a Growlers franchise-record 14 across just six innings against the Kenosha Kingfish. Facing 21 batters, Kraft struck out the side three separate times propelling the Growlers to a team-record 20 total strikeouts in 1-0 win in game one of the doubleheader. Kraft was later named the NWL Pitcher of the Night.
Kraft was named as the best pitcher of the day three separate times, tying Growlers teammate Liam O’Brien for the most of anyone in the league and tying Eamon Horwedel for the most in a single season in franchise history.
As the Growlers head to the postseason, the anchor of its staff Ryan Kraft will be ready for the #RoadtotheShip.
the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, 360 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner, and two-time All-MLB first-team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.growlersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rockers as your favorite team.